Productions Returning To Hollywood

In a sign that Hollywood is effectively fending off tantalizing efforts by other states and countries to attract film production, the semi-official group FilmL.A., which coordinates film permits issued by various city and county agencies for location shooting, reported Tuesday that filming in the L.A. area rose 37 percent in December compared with the same month a year ago. The report indicated that the increase was reflected in TV, movie, and commercial shooting, although feature film shooting nearly doubled (up 87 percent) during the month versus last year. California's recently enacted tax credits were believed to have played a prominent part in the turn-around.